Nationals sign Schwarber
Slugging outfielder Kyle Schwarber has agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Washington Nationals.
Schwarber was able to sign with any club after becoming a free agent last month when he was non-tendered by the Chicago Cubs. He was a member of their drought-ending 2016 World Series championship team, hitting .412 in the Fall Classic after missing much of that season with an injured left knee.
The 27-year-old Schwarber struggled at the plate during the pandemic-truncated 2020 season, hitting .188 with a .701 OPS for the Cubs. A year earlier, he produced 38 homers and 92 RBI, a .250 batting average and an .871 on-base plus slugging percentage, all career highs.
Schwarber will make $7 million this season and the contract includes a mutual option for 2022 that would be worth $11.5 million if exercised or guarantee a $3 million buyout if not.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Senior defensive end Garrett Rand is not returning to Wisconsin in 2021.
The stunning part of Rand's announcement, however, is that he is walking away from football because of health concerns.
“After a lot of thought and careful consideration,” he wrote on Twitter, “I've decided it is in my best interest to step away from football due to numerous injuries and their potential long-term impact.”
Rand missed the 2018 season after suffered a torn Achilles in summer workouts. He returned to start nine games in 2019 and five games in 2020. He did miss one game in 2019 after suffering a concussion in practice.
Rand, from Chandler, Arizona, started 14 games and played in 47 for UW. He was able to play nose tackle or end but flourished at the latter position, particularly against the run.
COLLEGE HOCKEY
Tarek Baker, Linus Weissbach and Sam Strange all scored as Wisconsin knocked off topranked Minnesota, 3-1, Saturday afternoon, handing the Gophers their first loss of the season in Madison.
Baker's goal two minutes int the third period gave the Badgers (6-5-0, 6-3-0) a 2-0 lead.
The Badgers effort wasn't complete without a strong performance from goaltender Robbie Beydoun who made 35 saves and kept the Gophers scoreless throughout the first and second periods.
Ohio State 2, UW women 1: Goalie Kennedy Blair made a collgiate-best 37 saves in net, but the Wisconsin women fell to WCHA rival Ohio State in overtime Saturday in Madison.
Wisconsin (4-2) tied the game late in the third period on a goal by Daryl Watts, but Liz Scheppers scored the deciding goal for the No. 3 Buckeyes in the extra session.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
UW-Milwaukee outscored Purdue-Fort Wayne 23-5 in the third quarter and cruised to a 64-33 victory Saturday at the Klotsche Center.
Brandi Bipspring lead the Panthers (11-1, 8-0 Horizon) with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
SKIING
Alexis Pinturault won a World Cup giant slalom for a second straight day on the storied Adelboden hill in Adelboden, Switzerland on Saturday, topping his superb performance from Friday.
Pinturault defied fast-fading light in the second run to post a huge winning margin of 1.26 seconds over Filipin Switzerland Zubcic, the runner-up on back-to-back days.
First-run leader Loic Meillard could not give Switzerland its first win since 2008 in its classic giant slalom. A big error early in his run left him 1.65 back in third place.
Pinturault's third straight giant slalom victory was a 33rd career win in World Cup races, matching American great Bode Miller in ninth place on the men's all-time list.
Pinturault seized the lead in the season-long giant slalom standings from home favorite Marco Odermatt, who placed fourth, 1.67 back.
The Frenchman also extended his lead in the World Cup overall points race ahead of Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, the defending champion.
American racer Tommy Ford was airlifted by helicopter to the hospital after crashing hard near the finish line. Ford was conscious and talking to medical staff who treated him on the course.
From Journal Sentinel wire services
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